Is Aaron Rodgers the NFL's best player?

Jun. 27, 2013

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Is Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers the best player in the NFL?

The NFL Network will provide its answer to that question during a two-hour broadcast beginning at 7 p.m. tonight.

The network has already revealed its list of top-10 players, but tonight will announce the order in which they are ranked.

The finalists are, in alphabetical order:

Tom Brady

Arian Foster

Calvin Johnson

Peyton Manning

Von Miller

Adrian Peterson

Aaron Rodgers

Aldon Smith

J.J. Watt

Patrick Willis

The only other Packers player to make the NFL Network’s top-100 list besides Rodgers was linebacker Clay Matthews, who weighs in at No. 31 (http://on.nfl.com/17s3HF7). Former Packers defensive back Charles Woodson, who signed with the Oakland Raiders during the offseason, ranks No. 85.

Packers coach Mike McCarthy spoke glowingly about Rodgers during a recent interview when I asked him about his quarterback.

“No. 1, I really enjoy coaching Aaron,” said McCarthy. “As anything, when you develop professional relationships you get to know people personally. I just think he’s such a, he has such diversity to him. He is a man that has a lot of depth. I have a lot of respect for where he’s at in his life. To be as young as he is and just as developed as he is. He’s got a lot of interesting interests and he’s well versed and educated on mostly anything that’s going on in our world. So if anything, I’m very conscientious of his personal time because his biggest challenge is the demands of his life, because what he’s developed professionally, you want to make sure that he has the time to personally have the balance that we all need. … He’s a neat guy, enjoy coaching him. Being the bad cop is always interesting, but that’s part of my job. But he’s high quality. I’m glad we have him.”

Update

Rodgers finished sixth, behind Houston Texans defensive end and former Wisconsin Badgers standout Watt. Peterson came in first, followed by Manning, Johnson and Brady.